Digital eco-design

Definitions: eco-design, Green for IT, IT Green, what are the differences?

The concept of digital eco-design encompasses three interrelated notions: eco-design, Green for IT, and IT Green. Let's start by clarifying these 3 terms.

‍Digital eco-design represents a global process aimed at designing, developing, and managing digital services while minimizing their ecological footprint. Applicable equally to mobile applications, websites and other digital solutions, this approach aims to integrate sustainable actions at every stage of digital life. The ultimate goal is to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote respectful use of natural resources, thus helping to mitigate environmental impact.

‍ITfor Green refers to a digital solution specifically designed to solve environmental problems, thus putting digital at the service of the environment and providing what is known as an "eco-solution".

‍Green IT represents a continuous improvement approach focused on reducing the environmental impact of an information system. This approach is led by companies' IT departments.

It is common to confuse these three approaches, as they can coexist within the same project. For example, a company may create an "eco-solution" while at the same time planning to implement its own project. This coexistence highlights the complementary nature of the approaches. However, it remains essential to clarify the specific roles and objectives of each in order to ensure effective and coherent implementation in the context of a digital project.

The life cycle of a digital service

The lifecycle of a digital product goes through several stages, each of which plays an essential role in its development, deployment and sustainability. We summarize this cycle in 7 stages.

It all starts with the design phase, where ideas take shape, functionalities are defined, and architectural choices are made. Then comes the realization phase, involving the actual development of the digital solution by choosing the appropriateNocode tool, user interfaces and planned functionalities.

The deployment phase marks the launch of the product on the market or within the organization, paving the way for its active use. Theadministration period follows, involving day-to-day management, security updates, and performance optimization to ensure smooth operation.

Over time, the product requires a regular maintenance phase to correct bugs, introduce new functionalities, and adapt to technological evolutions. At some point, however, every digital tool reaches the end of its lifecycle. This stage involves the deactivation or replacement of the product, the removal of obsolete functionalities, and the sustainable management of electronic waste, thus contributing to a sustainable approach to IT product lifecycle management.

When should you eco-design your digital project?

Ideally, this sustainable approach should be integrated right from the initial planning phase of a project. Here are some key points for determining when it's appropriate to apply this approach:
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• Design phase: The concept must be considered at the very beginning of the process. This allows sustainable principles to be integrated into the fundamental structure of the product or service.
• Launching a new project: When a new initiative is about to be launched, it's the ideal time to integrate sustainable practices. Decisions taken at the outset will have a significant impact on the ecological footprint throughout the product's life cycle.
• Upgrade or redesign: When major upgrades or redesigns are planned for an existing product or service, it's a good time to consider green improvements.
• Responding to new regulations: If new environmental regulations are introduced, it makes sense to review and adjust existing processes to comply with emerging standards.
• Technological change: When new technologies emerge, they often offer the opportunity to integrate more sustainable actions. Technological advances can sometimes lead to more energy-efficient solutions that have less impact on the environment.
• Environmental impact assessment: When an environmental impact assessment of the product or service is carried out, this can reveal specific areas where ecological improvements are possible and necessary.
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The earlier the concept is integrated into the process, the more effective it will be. However, even in projects already underway, there is always room for improvement and the adoption of more sustainable practices.
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The challenges of eco-design for major groups

Digital eco-design is emerging as a must-have strategy for major corporations, bringing substantial environmental as well as economic benefits. Here is a list of the main benefits that make this concept a strategic priority for companies:
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• Carbon footprint reduction: By adopting eco-design practices, companies can significantly reduce their environmental impact. This means minimizing energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and the use of natural resources.
• Resource optimization: The aim is to maximize the efficiency of the resources deployed in the development and operation of digital solutions. This approach promotes more judicious use of energy, servers, bandwidth and other IT resources.
• Financial savings: Reducing energy consumption and optimizing processes translates into substantial savings on operating costs for infrastructure, hosting and maintenance.
• Positive brand image: Adopting eco-responsible practices strengthens a company's brand image, particularly with consumers and users who are sensitive to environmental issues. This can translate into increased customer loyalty and a noticeable differentiation in the marketplace.
• Regulatory compliance: With the emergence of environmental regulations in many parts of the world, eco-design is becoming an essential lever for staying in compliance with these standards and minimizing the risks associated with potential sanctions.
• Improved performance: By simplifying interfaces and reducing the complexity of applications, this contributes to an overall improvement in the performance of digital solutions, delivering a more efficient user experience.
• Adaptability to new technologies: Eco-designed solutions stand out for their flexibility and scalability, making them particularly well suited to integrating new technologies and responding to rapid changes in the tech sector.
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By adopting this approach, companies can not only minimize their environmental impact, but also meet growing consumer expectations while actively contributing to building a more sustainable IT future.
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Resources for eco-design

The GR941

This is the reference guide for the responsible design of digital services. GR491 comprises 61 recommendations. This tool responds to the challenges of the digital age, and should enable all project stakeholders to adopt a continuous improvement approach, to evaluate themselves and to implement concrete recommendations throughout the deployment phases of an IT service.

General eco-design guidelines for digital services (RGESN)

This standard has been developed as part of the interministerial mission for responsible digital computing, and is co-piloted by the interministerial digital department (DINUM), the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, ADEME and the Institut du Numérique Responsable. The objectives are to reduce the consumption of IT and energy resources and the contribution to equipment obsolescence, whether network user or server hardware.

The Responsible Digital label

Created at the initiative of the Institut du Numérique Responsable, the principle of eco-design is now an integral part of its standards. The NR standard now offers two sector-specific versions for ESNs (Entreprises de Services du Numérique) and local authorities. 

The Référenciel d'éco-conception web (RWEB) proposes 115 best practices

GreenIT.fr has developed a repository of 115 web eco-design best practices. This framework is used by all web professionals seeking to reduce the environmental impact of their online services, websites and mobile applications. Here are 2 examples of best practices: 

• Think offline: Setting up an offline reading mode or opting for an offline-first approach can reduce data exchanges, while ensuring content availability even in areas with poor Internet connections.
• Optimize images: Reducing bandwidth consumption is essential. Choosing the right format, such as WebP, minimizes image size, offering a significant reduction of at least 30% compared with conventional JPEG or PNG formats.

Conclusion

Digital eco-design offers tangible benefits for companies that go beyond simply reducing their environmental impact. By opting for this approach, companies can save money, improve their image and make a tangible contribution to a more sustainable technological future.
Alegria.solutions offers its expertise to support companies in their digital eco-design projects.

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